Main menu

Frequent Flyers Project #2 – Paragliding in Nepal

Nepal… An epicenter of dramatic news that moved everyone of us so deeply. We were there exactly one year ago to fly around Pokhara and trek in the surroundings of Manaslu and Gorkha… Perrine had already been working on a development project in the villages of the Annapurna Conservation Area, and has found herself a welcoming family, many acquaintances, and loving friends. We realize how devastated all these villages are now… Our Nepalese guide Rajendra, who testifies in our film, is fortunately safe and sound, but now sleeps under a tent with his family. He understandably worries about not being able to work this year because of the lack of tourists. How is the local population going to endure the three month monsoon period without being able to work in the fields or even shelter from the rain? Short term survival and access to drinking water are absolutely critical for all of these remote villages that don’t attract any media attention or even any medical assistance.

We therefore asked ourselves if it was pertinent to release our film in such a context. But we have finally decided to show it because we are convinced tourism is one one of the major factors in rebuilding Nepal. The country’s people have lost a great deal but certainly not their kindness, their warm sense of welcome or the beauty of their environment. So open the door of Nepal….. and you’ll want to come back!

Paragliding in Nepal means discovering its many facets. When landing in remote valleys, we have always been met with an enthusiastic, warm and interested welcome. Our encounters with a smiling people attached to their cultural heritage and values remain deeply engraved in our heart. We not only met local pilots and discovered beautiful flying sites but also people in love with Nepal and its emblematic birds. Birds of prey, eagles and vultures often share the airspace with paragliders in these remote mountain ranges. Scott Mason is very passionate about birds of prey, especially vultures. He has created a bird of prey rehab centre in Pokhara: The Parahawking Project (http://www.parahawking.com).

If you wish to help the Nepalese, there are many ways you can participate: urgency assistance (medical or infrastructure), or rebuilding projects (drinking water networks, roads, agricultural undertakings)… Everything is important. Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross are the main medical actors on the spot. These well known and well equipped organizations are very efficient and reactive in the short term. But it is also important to help all organizations working on long term projects, such as housing, roads, water networks, and help to farmers deprived of any harvesting this year.

Here are the links to directly help the population, via recognized local associations:
– Karma Flights via The Cloudbase Foundation is a long established organization in Nepal, managed by paraglider pilots and helps people in very remote locations (http://www.karmaflights.org).
– Nepal Mountain Mobil Hospital focuses on medical asistance in remote nepalese valleys. It is managed by Dr. Pierre SOETE (http://www.nmmh.clinic).
– Karuna Shechen runs health projects as well as education and social services for underprivileged populations in India, Tibet and Nepal (http://karuna-shechen.org).

Don’t hesitate to share and communicate on these actions. Talking about Nepal and boosting tourism are the best ways to help rebuild the country. Our thoughts and prayers to all victims of these earthquakes.

WATCH THE OTHER EPISODES
Paragliding in New Zealand: https://vimeo.com/125979643
Paragliding in Namibia: https://vimeo.com/137594047

SPOTS WHERE TO FLY
We had two great flights around Pokhara valley. One was about 75km (Sarangkot – Sardi Khola – Panchase – Pokhara) and the other one was 35km (Sirkot – Pokhara). But there is so much to do in terms of XC flying!
– Pokhara (28.260850, 83.973012)
– Sirkot (28.021082, 83.729253)
– Bandipur (27.931764, 84.413881)